You never want to hear these kinds of things, but you’d be foolish to think it doesn’t happen. Sports Illustrated reported that former NBA star Kenny Anderson has come forward to admit that he was sexually abused as a child by two different people.
Even though Anderson retired in 2006 from the NBA, the fact that he played professional sports and is willing to admit this is very important for other guys who have been through the same thing. Most athletes go by thinking that people will judge them and they’ll be shunned for these kinds of confessions.
Anderson addressed it by saying:
“The bottom line if I could help somebody and they see Kenny Anderson got molested and he’s talking about it, now people are going to come out and maybe be able to tell their story. I wasn’t going to do it, but the trigger went off for me and it just had to be done.”
Hopefully the stigma against coming forward will be helped by Anderson’s confession. Other athletes, such as former NFL player, Laveraneus Coles, has come forward with similar stories but the public needs to know not to outcast people that have been through these harrowing situations.